Rep. Salud Carbajal on Pesticides, Crop Protection, and Agricultural Research Funding

Supporting Specialty Crop Growers

• 🎯 Specialty crops, which are unique and delicate, face significant challenges from pests, invasive species, and diseases.
• 💡 Farmers are investing in innovation to manage pests while reducing risks to people, property, and the environment.
• 💰 The committee can support these efforts by increasing funding for research within California for specialty crops, particularly for minor crops that often lack adequate attention.
• 🤝 Collaboration with universities through programs like IR4, FAR, and specialty crop block grants is crucial for developing and disseminating new pest management strategies.

Streamlining Pesticide Registration

• ⏱️ The dual pesticide registration process between state and federal agencies (EPA) can slow down the adoption of new tools, including biologicals.
• 🚀 To accelerate adoption, federal and state agencies should coordinate for parallel or concurrent registration, allowing state and federal processes to begin simultaneously.
• 📈 California farmers are innovative and eager to adopt new tools and technologies, but regulatory delays hinder this progress.

Enhancing Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• 🌱 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a key strategy for crop protection and resiliency.
• 🏡 Pest management begins with healthy soils, and funding for practices that improve soil quality is essential.
• 🌾 Healthy plants are less susceptible to insect damage, highlighting the importance of soil health in pest prevention.
• 🛠️ Expanding programs through NRCS that provide funding for soil health practices could further support IPM efforts.